Joint federal investigation busts two cartel drug, gun operations in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - A massive federal drug, gun, and money laundering bust has broken up two Mexican cartel operations working in Louisville.

The yearlong investigation, which is still in progress, has led to charges against more than a dozen people.

It started in February 2024.

This federal investigation actually just started as a police call for a shooting at 3706 Lentz. What was a non-fatal shooting turned into a firearms bust where officers seized more than 43 firearms. Some of those were stolen, others had been found to be used in other crimes.

“It was discovered that the residence was being used as a cartel stash house by aliens from Mexico who were unlawfully present into the United States,” said ATF Louisville Special Agent in Charge John Nokes.

Nokes showed some of those guns that were headed to Mexico. A 45 caliber pistol with gold grips. An AR-15 style rifle modified to be fully automatic. All American guns are highly sought after by foreign criminals.

“There’s a war going on in Mexico, and these are outfitting those troops, those cartels, those terrorist members,” said Nokes.

The DEA said the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels sent at least four cars between the US and Mexico carrying cocaine and cash on the return trip. The feds also busted a money laundering operation working in three El Rey grocery stores.

“The stores would process fraudulent transactions utilizing fake identifications in which these drug proceeds were laundered back to Mexico,” said DEA Louisville Special Agent in Charge Jim Scott.

He said it is unusual for Louisville to have a direct line to Mexico, explaining that typically the cartels would use bigger cities. But he emphasized, they’re here.

“The tentacles of these terrorist organizations stretch across the US, Louisville is not immune to that problem,” said Scott.

Of more than a dozen people indicted, four are on the run possibly in Mexico. The US Attorney’s Office said four of the people face over a hundred years in prison if convicted and given the maximum sentence.